Tag Archives: recycling

38 Paper or plastic? The unsatisfying answer is neither. Retailers including Ikea and Trader Joe’s sell heavy-duty polypropylene sacks designed to be reused. But how do you get convenience-obsessed American shoppers actually to use them again? Timberland‘s (NYSE:TBL) “Trash Is My Bag” totes (made from recycled plastic bottles) cost $5.50 each or come free with a $100 purchase; to encourage reuse–and more shopping at Timberland–each bag doubles as a 10%-off coupon through the end of 2008.

Definitely take tips for your own business, I’m sure you’ll get some lovely insight. I also learned a few things about companies that I never would have imagined. Plus don’t pass up #50 Hire This Guy. I think I want that job.

Update Sorry about the coloring on the quote. I hadn’t noticed that the blockquote was a different color. CSS is great but not when you can’t change it (for a free anyway) and someone else wrote it.

When you’re ready to part with that dear old computer, don’t throw in the trash. Earth911 let’s you search for local recyclers who take not only electronics but also plastics, household goods, automotive parts (think oil and tires), and lawn and garden chemicals.

Its especially important to recycle your electronics. Many computers contain lead which if thrown in the landfill, can seep out. I’m personally not big on drinking lead water.

The other interesting part on this is that you can recyclers for your CFLs (compact fluorescent lamp). These lights go a long way in reducing energy demands but the huge downside: mercury. The bulbs work by exciting a small amount of mercury inside the tube to produce light. Wikipedia can explain it much better.

Finally, if there’s a Staples store nearby, you can take your computer, printer, monitor, whatever you have into them. Staples is the first big retailer to offer electronics recycling in store. The big items do cost money. Its $10 to recycle your monitor, printer, or computer tower. However, that price is fairly competitive with everything else I’ve seen. Small items (keyboards, mice, speakers) are free to recycle.